Hey hey hey! SO much to talk about...hmm...well first things first. The first area of my mission is Colonial Heights, Virginia! It's about 30ish minutes from Richmond. I'm LOVIN it here. My companion, Elder Bradfield is an AWESOME guy. I'm so so happy to have a good trainer. I was pretty worried about that. My mission president is a SUPER AWESOME guy. I really gained a love for him in our first interview the day I arrived. We had a short one due to all the missionaries he had to interview but it was really good. He is also a huge history fan and was impressed with my (dad's) story of how we came to Montana. He also complimented me on how well I carried myself and how he saw a leader in me (definitely does not help with my humility problems ;) ). Look out Virginia! New AP right here! JUST KIDDING! sheesh let's not rip into me now it was only a JOKE!....sorta ;) jk hehe. Anyway! I thought I would be nervous talking to people and going teaching actual people but it's really not that bad. My companion and I work really really well together and he was very surprised at how well i taught (this is coming from him not me so NO i'm not being boastful...just telling what I was told). We really concentrate on the less-actives and part-member families here. There are A LOT of less actives. A couple of them are improving, however, and really want to do whats right. Others are a bit more difficult. I am surprised at how much (and how soon) i've come to enjoy and care for these people. One lady, Sister Woodley is HILARIOUS. She's a crazy (in a good way), loving black lady who tries to do what's right and wants to feel God's presence in her life. We've been able to see her a couple times and help resolve some concerns and she's doing great. There's another sister here, a struggling less-active, who is someone i am going to concentrate a lot of my efforts on while i am here. There is so much to say about her and how I feel and so on but my journal will have to suffice and most people won't be seeing that but ANYWAYS! She fell away from the church after a hard divorce and has really gone off the deep end. She knows what she needs to do but she lacks the motivation and support. It doesn't help that she rents out part of her house and the inhabitants are...umm...well let's just say they aren't the best influence. They all love the missionaries but most of them aren't interested. We'll be going over to her house tonight for FHE and will be able to teach her, her son, and her "not-boyfriend" Bobby (who we're hoping to get interested in the church). They all came to church yesterday, even bobby which was a shock, so it's a good beginning. Things are going well here though and I'm keeping busy.
So! Yesterday was Sunday, thus I was able to attend my ward here and meet everyone...oh boy welcome to the South. A lot of them are older folks and there is a small amount of primary children and VERY small amount of youth. The Elder's quorum is small enough that we have started combining with the High Priests...haha that was a fun lesson....anyways just a funny thought. My comp. and I are part of the ward choir (due to its small size of course) and as I said, "welcome to the South". It was mainly older women with kinda rough voices, then four men (including the missionaries). I don't know the name of the song but it definitely is not your typical sunday song. Very southern like. I'M NOT MAKING FUN OR SAYING ANYTHINGS WRONG I'M MERELY SAYING IT'S VERY SOUTHERN. I'm LOVING it down here though. The southern hospitality is super great. Like most people, I was expecting to come across a lot of hardcore religious people ready to debate the scriptures but i've found that everyone is very nice and cordial and pretty much not interested. We've come across only one guy who was VERY grumpy but that was a very short door visit, so not much to report on that. As i was saying about southern hospitality, we have a dinner appointment every. single. night. I'm definitely not wanting in the food department (this is not me saying no to care packages though *COUGH* *COUGH*) Last night we had dinner with the Green family. WOW. I can definitely act like i'm at home there. They're an awesome family and very very funny. oh and when i say I can act like i'm at home i really can (my mother and father will now be holding their heads in their hands and saying "Oh no...")
The spiritual thought of the day comes from my personal studies this morning. I was reading in Mosiah about the prophet Abinadi and his steadfastness. I love the story of Abinadi and this is why: Mosiah 17: 9-10
"Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.
Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day."
Verse 20:
"And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death."
He is one of my heroes because of his steadfastness in the faith. I exhort every one of you to be steadfast and immovable and firm in the faith upon the foundation of Christ. I know what I am doing is God's work. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one and only TRUE church on the face of the earth and the Book of Mormon IS another testament of Jesus Christ. I know the God lives and loves each and every one of us. He leads this church through an ACTUAL prophet, Thomas S. Monson. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." I leave my testimony of these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Hyrum Harrison Smith
P.S. the blog is looking great.
P.P.S. here is my new address. send all mail directly here and not through the mission home. and put my full name on the envelope
Elder Hyrum Harrison Smith
3088 Farris Ave.
Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834
So! Yesterday was Sunday, thus I was able to attend my ward here and meet everyone...oh boy welcome to the South. A lot of them are older folks and there is a small amount of primary children and VERY small amount of youth. The Elder's quorum is small enough that we have started combining with the High Priests...haha that was a fun lesson....anyways just a funny thought. My comp. and I are part of the ward choir (due to its small size of course) and as I said, "welcome to the South". It was mainly older women with kinda rough voices, then four men (including the missionaries). I don't know the name of the song but it definitely is not your typical sunday song. Very southern like. I'M NOT MAKING FUN OR SAYING ANYTHINGS WRONG I'M MERELY SAYING IT'S VERY SOUTHERN. I'm LOVING it down here though. The southern hospitality is super great. Like most people, I was expecting to come across a lot of hardcore religious people ready to debate the scriptures but i've found that everyone is very nice and cordial and pretty much not interested. We've come across only one guy who was VERY grumpy but that was a very short door visit, so not much to report on that. As i was saying about southern hospitality, we have a dinner appointment every. single. night. I'm definitely not wanting in the food department (this is not me saying no to care packages though *COUGH* *COUGH*) Last night we had dinner with the Green family. WOW. I can definitely act like i'm at home there. They're an awesome family and very very funny. oh and when i say I can act like i'm at home i really can (my mother and father will now be holding their heads in their hands and saying "Oh no...")
The spiritual thought of the day comes from my personal studies this morning. I was reading in Mosiah about the prophet Abinadi and his steadfastness. I love the story of Abinadi and this is why: Mosiah 17: 9-10
"Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.
Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the last day."
Verse 20:
"And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death."
He is one of my heroes because of his steadfastness in the faith. I exhort every one of you to be steadfast and immovable and firm in the faith upon the foundation of Christ. I know what I am doing is God's work. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one and only TRUE church on the face of the earth and the Book of Mormon IS another testament of Jesus Christ. I know the God lives and loves each and every one of us. He leads this church through an ACTUAL prophet, Thomas S. Monson. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." I leave my testimony of these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Hyrum Harrison Smith
P.S. the blog is looking great.
P.P.S. here is my new address. send all mail directly here and not through the mission home. and put my full name on the envelope
Elder Hyrum Harrison Smith
3088 Farris Ave.
Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834
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